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COTABATO CITY––Police have launched a hunt for two men on a motorbike who ambushed and seriously injured on Wednesday an off-duty police officer in Pikit town, Cotabato province.
Brig. Gen. Alexander Tagum, Soccsksargen police director, said Patrolman Santhy Ben Marcelo Buagas, 25, of Alamada, Cotabato, was driving his motorbike to work when unidentified men shot him.
Major Maxim Peralta, Pikit town police chief, said Buagas was alone and in civilian clothes when two men tailing him from another motorbike opened fire and hit him about 1 p.m. Wednesday on the national highway in Barangay Batulawan, Pikit.
“Our investigation is continuing. We have persons of interest,” Peralta said.
“We strongly condemn the treacherous shooting of one of our men, who was driving to report to his duty,” Brig. Tagum said.
The off-duty police officer belonged to the 12-3rd Regional Mobile Force Battalion stationed in Pikit. It was unclear if he was armed or not.
Crime scene investigators found empty shells for the caliber-45 pistol at the ambush site.
Peralta said Patrolman Buagas suffered bullet wounds in various parts of his body but was in stable condition in an undisclosed hospital.
“We are praying for the fast recovery of Patrolman Buagas. This blatant act of violence will be resolved, and the perpetrators will be held accountable under the law,” Brig. Gen. Tagum said.